44
2.—KARRI (Euc. diversicolor).
The second most important tree of the State; it grows to a great height (trees of 280 feet having been measured), with a bole of 100 to 140 feet, and diameter of 5 to 10 feet.
The bark is smooth, bluish-white in colour to start with, and yellow-white or pink-white at the end of the season. It is not persistent like that of the Jarrah, but peels off every year, leaving the fresh new bark underneath. The leaves are a dark shining green in colour from three to six inches in length. The flowers are of a yellowish white or cream colour, and not so large as those of the Jarrah. The calyx or "knob" of the flower is somewhat egg-shaped, but tapers gradually into the stalk. The fruits are of the same shape as the calyx, but larger, being about ¼in. diameter at the top. This tree, however, can always be distinguished by its bark, and locality which is given below.
Weight per cubic foot (green)—72lbs.
At 12 per cent, moisture—58lbs.
Transverse strength—17,300lbs. per square inch.
Tensile strength—18,750lbs. per square inch.
A hard, strong wood. It closely resembles jarrah timber, but the grain is longer, and it is a much stronger wood. It is beyond doubt a splendid superstructural timber, and is strongly to be recommended for heavy beams, roof purposes, etc. It is not durable in the ground, and does not resist white ants.
It is on Lloyd's list of shipbuilding timbers, and is suitable for all purposes where large sections of great strength are necessary. It has been found very satisfactory for wooden pipes, and it makes a good wagon spoke, but its main use up to now has been for railway wagon scantling, and telegraph arms. The English Railway Companies and the London Post Office authorities are strong in their praise of the timber for these purposes. It has suffered very much through its being so easily confounded with jarrah. As in all young countries, timber in Western Australia has in the past been valued according to its durability as a fence post or sleeper, and karri, though immeasurably superior in other respects, has been condemned owing to its failure when put to such uses. It is confined to the wettest portion of the South-West of the State, and its Northern limit is Nannup and the upper waters of the Donnelly, whence it spreads Southwards and South-Eastwards to Denmark. There is then a gap in the belt, and it is to be met with again near the Porongorup Range; another isolated patch occurs on the extreme South-West near the Leeuwin; this was the place whence the first karri was exported from the State, and is more commonly known under the name of Karridale. In all it is doubtful whether more than 500,000 acres of prime karri forest can be reserved. It regenerates itself well, and it forms the only forest of the State thai carries a dense undergrowth of shade-bearing species.
The saw-miller recovers from 2S to 35 per cent, of the round log.
